Chapter  1  
Historical  Antecedents  in  Which  Social  Considerations  Changed    
the  Course  of  Science  and  Technology  
 
 
Introduction  
  This  section  presents  an  overview  of  how  science  and  technology  evolved  from  
ancient  times  to  the  present.  It  shows  how  man  was  able  to  develop  crude  technological  
tools  and  eventually  improve  them  through  time  to  make  his  way  of  living  more  convenient  
and  the  society  more  progressive.    
 
Intended  Learning  Outcomes:  
 
1.   Discuss  the  interactions  between  science  and  technology  and  society  throughout  
history  
2.   Discuss   how   scientific   and   technological   developments   affect   society   and   the  
environment  
3.   Identify  the  paradigm  shifts  in  history  
 
 
A.   General  Concepts  
 
What  is  Science,  Technology  and  Society?  
   
  Science   and   Technology   and   Society   is   an   interdisciplinary   course   designed   to  
examine  the  ways  that  science  and  technology  shape,  and  are  shaped  by,  our  society,  
politics,  and  culture.  It  explores  the  conditions  under  which  production,  distribution  and  
utilization   of   scientific   knowledge   and   technological   systems   occur;;   and   the   effects   of  
these   processes   upon   the   entire   society.   History   and   philosophy   of   science   and  
technology,  sociology  and  anthropology  are  greatly  interconnected  to  the  discussion  of  
STS   because   these   are   the   very   factors   that   molded   the   development   of   science   and  
technology  as  we  know  it  today.    
 
  Science  is  an  evolving  body  of  knowledge  that  is  based  on  theoretical  expositions  
and  experimental  and  empirical  activities  that  generates  universal  truths.  Technology,  on  
the   other   hand   is   the   application   of   science   and   creation   of   systems,   processes   and  
objects  designed  to  help  humans  in  their  daily  activities.  The  development  of  science  and  
technology  has  brought  immense  progress  in  society  and  men.  Scientific  knowledge  and  
technology   influences   individuals   and   society.   Better   understanding   of   science   and  
technology  is  essential  to  know  the  unique  attributes  of  each  enterprise,  then  addressing  
their  implications  for  society.    
 
 
 
  
  Society  is  the  sum  total  of  our  interactions  as  humans,  including  the  interactions  
that  we  engage  in  to  understand  the  nature  of  things  and  to  create  things.  It  is  also  defined  
as  a  group  of  individuals  involved  in  persistent  social  interaction,  or  a  large  social  group  
sharing  the  same  geographical  or  social  territory,  typically  subject  to  the  same  political  
authority  and  dominant  cultural  expectations  (Science  Daily).  
 
Science,  technology  and  society  is  important  to  the  public  because  it  helps  address  
issues   and   problems   that   are   of   concern   to   the   general   population.   Scientific   and  
technological   principles   have   been   and   continue   to   be   applied   to   solve   problems   that  
people   experience   in   their   day-­to-­day   aspects   of   living.   But   scientific   findings   must   be  
applied  at  the  right  scales.  The  impact  of  technological  breakthroughs  on  people,  society  
and  the  environment  must  be  critically  assessed  to  preserve  its  value.    
 

                                                                 Figure  1  The  Interrelationship  of  science,  technology  and  society  

                                                                 Source:  Ihueze  et  al.,  2015.  researchgate.net  

A  lot  of  our  problems  in  modern  society  involve  not  only  technology  but  also  human  
values,   social   organization,   environmental   concerns,   economic   resources,   political  
decisions,  and  a  myriad  of  other  factors.  These  things  sits  at  the  interface  between  the  
three   fields   and   can   also   be   solved   (if   they   can   be   solved   at   all)   by   the   application   of  
scientific  knowledge,  technical  expertise,  social  understanding,  and  humane  compassion.  
 
In  the  past,  science  is  learned  as  an  independent  study  from  other  fields.  It  focuses  
on  the  scientific  methods,  natural  processes  and  understanding  nature.  But  in  the  current  
global   scenario,   science   is   studied   holistically,   often   in   an   interdisciplinary   method,  
emphasizing  systems  rather  than  processes,  synthesis  more  than  analysis  and  predicting  
nature’s  behavior  in  order  to  have  useful  application  in  solving  contemporary  problems.  

2
The   scientific   data   that   have   built   up   a   considerable   base   of   knowledge   led   to   a   vast  
portfolio   of   useful   technologies,   especially   in   the   21st   century,   to   solve   many   of   the  
problems  now  facing  humankind  (UNESCO,  1999).    
 
To   solve   our   contemporary   problems,   science   needs   to   become   more  
multidisciplinary   and   its   practitioners   should   continue   to   promote   cooperation   and  
integration  between  the  social  and  natural  sciences.  A  holistic  approach  also  demands  
that  science  draw  on  the  contributions  of  the  humanities  (such  as  history  and  philosophy),  
local  knowledge  systems,  aboriginal  wisdom,  and  the  wide  variety  of  cultural  values.  
 
The   influence   of   science   and   technology   on   people’s   lives   is   expanding.   While  
recent  benefits  to  humanity  are  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  human  species,  in  some  
instances  the  impact  has  been  harmful  or  the  long-­term  effects  give  causes  for  serious  
concerns.  A  considerable  measure  of  public  mistrust  of  science  and  fear  of  technology  
exists  today.  In  part,  this  stems  from  the  belief  by  some  individuals  and  communities  that  
they  will  be  the  ones  to  suffer  the  indirect  negative  consequences  of  technical  innovations  
introduced   to   benefit   only   a   privileged   minority.   The   power   of   science   to   bring   about  
change  places  a  duty  on  scientists  to  proceed  with  great  caution  both  in  what  they  do  and  
what  they  say.  Scientists  should  reflect  on  the  social  consequences  of  the  technological  
applications  or  dissemination  of  partial  information  of  their  work  and  explain  to  the  public  
and   policy   makers   alike   the   degree   of   scientific   uncertainty   or   incompleteness   in   their  
findings.  At  the  same  time,  though,  they  should  not  hesitate  to  fully  exploit  the  predictive  
power   of   science,   duly   qualified,   to   help   people   cope   with   environmental   change,  
especially  in  cases  of  direct  threats  like  natural  disasters  or  water  shortages.  
 
The  Role  of  Science  and  Technology  
 
1.   alter   the   way   people   live,   connect,   communicate   and   transact,   with   profound  
effects  on  economic  development;;  
2.   key   drivers   to   development,   because   technological   and   scientific   revolutions  
underpin   economic   advances,   improvements   in   health   systems,   education   and  
infrastructure;;    
3.   The  technological  revolutions  of  the  21st  century  are  emerging  from  entirely  new  
sectors,   based   on   micro-­processors,   tele-­communications,   bio-­technology   and  
nano-­technology.   Products   are   transforming   business   practices   across   the  
economy,  as  well  as  the  lives  of  all  who  have  access  to  their  effects.  The  most  
remarkable   breakthroughs   will   come   from   the   interaction   of   insights   and  
applications  arising  when  these  technologies  converge.  
4.   have  the  power  to  better  the  lives  of  poor  people  in  developing  countries    
5.   differentiators   between   countries   that   are   able   to   tackle   poverty   effectively   by  
growing  and  developing  their  economies,  and  those  that  are  not.    
6.   engine  of  growth    
7.   interventions   for   cognitive   enhancement,   proton   cancer   therapy   and   genetic  
engineering  
 
 

3
  
Reflective  Question:  
With   the   whole   world   suffering   from   CoViD-­19   pandemic,   discuss   the   interplay  
between  science,  technology  and  society  in  mitigating  this  problem.    
 
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